Compare towns
Killingly vs Ellington vs Preston vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Ellington has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Killingly | Ellington | Preston | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
16,455 |
4,821Lowest |
17,551 |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
40.9±2.4 about the CT average |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
| Preston and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
| Ellington and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Ellington and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
| Ellington and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,751Highest about the CT average |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
72.2% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
31 minHighest 18% above CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 149 in CT | #46 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ellington School District | Preston School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Ellington High School | None in town | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.3Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.